Manas National Park Faces Severe Staff Shortages Impacting Conservation Efforts

Manas National Park is currently facing a significant staffing crisis, with over 100 positions unfilled, impacting its conservation efforts and security measures. The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has struggled with manpower shortages for years, leading to delays in critical projects such as rhino translocation. Recent reports indicate that the vacancy rate stands at 22%, with some roles completely unfilled. This situation has raised concerns about the park's ability to manage wildlife effectively and respond to poaching incidents. An RTI activist's attempts to gather information on these vacancies have highlighted issues with transparency in the park's administration. The ongoing staffing challenges pose a serious threat to the park's conservation initiatives.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 9, 2026, 09:43 IST

Staffing Challenges at Manas National Park

AT Photo

Guwahati, Nov 9: Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve is currently struggling with a significant shortage of personnel, with over 100 positions remaining unfilled for an extended period.

According to official statistics, this World Heritage Site has an authorized workforce of 466, yet 103 of these roles have been vacant for years, resulting in a vacancy rate of 22%.

Three years ago, the staffing situation was even more dire, leading to the postponement of a planned rhino translocation due to security issues, despite approval from the State Board of Wildlife Assam.

The current vacancies encompass various roles, including one forest ranger, one research officer, five junior assistants at the director level, and several others across different positions such as forest guards and game watchers.

In critical roles like research officer and veterinary field assistant, the vacancy rate is alarmingly high, reaching 100% in some cases. Additionally, many forester positions are also unfilled.

Rohit Choudhury, an RTI activist, submitted a request for information regarding these vacancies to the field director's office. However, the office reportedly failed to adhere to standard procedures and instead instructed Choudhury to gather the data independently.

In a response to his RTI request dated September 28, 2026, the field director's office claimed that the information was extensive and spread across multiple files, making it impractical to compile. They invited Choudhury to visit and inspect the records personally.

Conversely, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests promptly provided the requested information in a concise one-page document in their reply dated September 30, 2026.

It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court, in its ruling on August 17, 2023, emphasized the duty of public authorities to proactively disclose information as mandated by Section 4 of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Sources within the forest department indicated that Manas has long faced staffing issues, although there have been some improvements recently.

In 2023, the vacancy rate was alarmingly high at nearly 55%, with an effective vacancy percentage of 63% due to many staff members being unable to perform field duties because of age or health issues. Out of a sanctioned strength of 294, 160 positions were vacant, with an additional 25 staff unfit for fieldwork.

The situation had deteriorated to the point where a security assessment team could not authorize the rhino reintroduction, which had been approved for 25 rhinos by the State Board of Wildlife Assam, amidst rising incidents of poaching of both rhinos and elephants.